L-G orders more surprise checks

L-G Najeeb Jung during a visit to the Delhi Secretariat recently. (Archive)

In a second series of inspections across the capital, carried out on the direction of Lt-Governor Najeeb Jung, major irregularities were found in hospitals, fair price shops, transport offices and construction sites, leading to suspension of officials in some instances. The department of food and supplies constituted 26 teams, which inspected fair price shops, petrol pumps and LPG agencies.

Six teams checked LPG agencies to see if underweight LPG cylinders were being supplied to consumers. The teams also intercepted vehicles on their way to home deliver cylinders and checked the weight of cylinders. “In five cases, the cylinders were found to be underweight up to 850 gm. The defaulters will be prosecuted under Section 30 of the Legal Metrology Act, 2009. In the case of repeated offenders, FIRs will be lodged,” an official said. A domestic LPG cylinder should weigh 14.2 kg.

Teams inspected 19 fair price shops to detect cases of diversion of food grains. “The shops, which were found closed or where records were not found, were sealed. In cases where diversion of food grains was detected, criminal cases have been registered against the licensee. Three FIRs have been lodged. Two inspectors of Food and Supplies Department have been suspended for dereliction of duty,” the official said.

Ten teams also conducted surprise checks in 25 petrol pumps. In four cases, the licensees have been prosecuted for dispensing less quantity of fuel. In eight cases, prosecution has been initiated for non-display of verification certificate on the dispensing machine. The ACB officers also conducted surprise checks at two sites where major construction work is currently under way.

In Mandoli Prisons Complex, Delhi, the team inspected the site along with PWD officials. “It was found that the work was running behind schedule. Technical experts were absent from the site. Some of the unskilled labourers said they were not being paid minimum wages prescribed by the government,” an official said. ACB officers also inspected the construction work of elevated corridors from Janakpuri to Wazirabad. “The records of sub-contractors were not being maintained. No technical experts were found on the site to ensure quality of construction,” the official said.

An anti-corruption inspection drive was also conducted in the two motor licensing offices of the Transport department. During the check, a tout operating near the Rohini Transport Authority was apprehended for accepting a bribe of Rs 800 from a complainant for getting a driving licence made. An FIR has been registered in the matter.

Food safety officers, along with 10 police personnel, checked sweet shops in Netaji Subhas Place Market, Wazirpur and Rani Bagh. Samples of spices, besan and sweets were lifted from four shops and sent to the food testing lab for analysis. Fifteen teams were sent to conduct surprise checks on the premises of 12 transporters. The drive mainly covered tax-return defaulters, dealers suspected to be dealing in bogus transactions and godowns. Premises of two dealers were sealed for not producing account books and their inability to prove the purchase against which input tax credit was claimed.

Searches were also carried out at the bonded warehouses of Indian liquor and country liquor. The final reports are expected later. The Directorate of Education carried out surprise inspection of 16 schools.